walking, riddle me this...
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thuderousthighss
Posts: 10 Member
I was looking up things about walking as exercise and for the most part the articles were saying it was pointless unless you're walking this fast or this long etc. I've been walking around the neighborhood twice which is about a mile and I'm sweaty and feel it working my muscles and it gets my heart rate up.
So my question is, should I be doing more for it to even be doing anything? (Sorry if this is hard to understand lol just woke up)
For reference, my current weight is 344, I'm 5'3", I've been walking about a mile at a little under 30 minutes.
So my question is, should I be doing more for it to even be doing anything? (Sorry if this is hard to understand lol just woke up)
For reference, my current weight is 344, I'm 5'3", I've been walking about a mile at a little under 30 minutes.
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Replies
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What tosh are you reading that says walking is no good?!
Any exercise is better than no exercise!15 -
Any exercise has got to be better than none. Slow and steady wins this particular race. As your fitness improves you'll walk further and faster. Keep going, better than sitting still .....3
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thuderousthighss wrote: »I was looking up things about walking as exercise and for the most part the articles were saying it was pointless unless you're walking this fast or this long etc. I've been walking around the neighborhood twice which is about a mile and I'm sweaty and feel it working my muscles and it gets my heart rate up.
So my question is, should I be doing more for it to even be doing anything? (Sorry if this is hard to understand lol just woke up)
For reference, my current weight is 344, I'm 5'3", I've been walking about a mile at a little under 30 minutes.
Keep doing that, and when you're able ... walk further.
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thuderousthighss wrote: »I was looking up things about walking as exercise and for the most part the articles were saying it was pointless unless you're walking this fast or this long etc. I've been walking around the neighborhood twice which is about a mile and I'm sweaty and feel it working my muscles and it gets my heart rate up.
So my question is, should I be doing more for it to even be doing anything? (Sorry if this is hard to understand lol just woke up)
For reference, my current weight is 344, I'm 5'3", I've been walking about a mile at a little under 30 minutes.
Sounds like you have a great start! Any time you are up off the couch and moving, you are burning more calories.
You are doing this the right way. Do what you can now and build up. When you are feeling that you can, work towards longer distance or faster speed.
I tell everyone: make sure you have good, supportive shoes and thick, absorbent socks. Your feet, knees, and back will thank you down the road.
Those articles are bunk (probably aimed for people who are already fit and need to know how to maximize their walking).3 -
I say pfffffffttt on anything saying that walking is useless or unhelpful. Rubbish!
Walking is great and anytime I see a thread started by someone who is a complete beginner I suggest it. It's what I started out with many pounds ago. It's a skill most people, even beginners, already have. It can be done nearly anywhere with little to no start up costs. It's both a gateway exercise for newbs and a fantastic restorative activity for already active folks.
Keep up with what you're doing. You're on a great path!10 -
What you are doing is awesome. We all start from where we are.6
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TavistockToad wrote: »What tosh are you reading that says walking is no good?!
Any exercise is better than no exercise!
This, absolutely this.
And, at a higher weight, walking is quite a strenuous exercise. Keep doing what you're doing, and add more time/distance as you can. Slowly.3 -
What everyone else said.
This is the time to download Pokemon Go, or some audiobooks you're only allowed to listen to while walking, and walk.4 -
HeliumIsNoble wrote: »What everyone else said.
This is the time to download Pokemon Go, or some audiobooks you're only allowed to listen to while walking, and walk.
I agree that music or audiobooks or a radio station or geocaching/Pokemon Go are all great when walking. Anything that makes it more enjoyable for you.
I do audiobooks when I swim (waterproof IPod and waterproof earbuds). Personally, I prefer to not listen to anything when walking. I love the sounds of nature and small town living. easier to greet the neighbors and get to know the dogs who get walked on my path.
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thuderousthighss wrote: »I was looking up things about walking as exercise and for the most part the articles were saying it was pointless unless you're walking this fast or this long etc. I've been walking around the neighborhood twice which is about a mile and I'm sweaty and feel it working my muscles and it gets my heart rate up.
So my question is, should I be doing more for it to even be doing anything? (Sorry if this is hard to understand lol just woke up)
For reference, my current weight is 344, I'm 5'3", I've been walking about a mile at a little under 30 minutes.
Keep doing that, and when you're able ... walk further.
Absolutely this.
Walking doesn't burn that many calories when you're within a healthy BMI range as you burn less calories just existing and you're carrying less. At your current size walking is plenty strenuous! You can imagine how much strapping on a heavy backpack or any resistance increases the calorie expenditure of a simple exercise.
Keep going, and you can increase your distance over time.3 -
walking is great exercise, especially at higher body weights. Keep walking. Even just standing can be exercise, so stand instead of sitting whenever possible. Start out slow but keep in mind progression is important too, as you lose weight and get fitter, set yourself a goal to walk in a 5K, and then next goal to run the 5K. you'll be fit and healthy before you know it.1
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I started walking at 290lb, struggled to do more than 5min at 3km/hr. 20 months on and I've got my second half marathon in 3 weeks time and weigh in at 154lb.
We all have to start somewhere and walking is a great place to start. I started by steadily increasing the time I was walking until I was up to 30 mins. Then I used C25K to up my walking pace and eventually added actual running. Then I did my first 5K, then a few more then a 10k then a half marathon. I still do run/walk intervals and do a lot of actual walking.12 -
OP, many transition from walking to running but don't feel like this is the way you have to do it. Do what is working for you and what you enjoy. Progression is key . . . keep building up distance and/or speed as you are able to.1
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I think 30 minutes daily is a perfectly fine goal. It keeps your metabolism online and I think that's priority #1. If you're eating well, your body will drop weight as long as you keep the fire burning.2
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You are doing great! nearly Everyone on here started walking, if they had much to lose. Just keep adding time every few weeks as you are able. 3 years ago I could not walk more than 1/4 mile without excruciating pain & needing a rest and water. Now I can hike all day, run, swim, and do almost anything I want to. Take it one step at a time (no pun intended.)3
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Walking is excellent for exercising.1
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Any exercise is better than none! I walk about 20-30 minutes per day. It takes me 20 minutes on average to walk 1 mile so I usually get 1-1.5 miles on my treadmill.1
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thuderousthighss wrote: »I'm sweaty and feel it working my muscles and it gets my heart rate up.
that's all you need to know. when you're reading stuff, it's good to consider the source and who they might be assuming they're talking to. one person's 'nothing' is another persons' perfect workout, for where they're positioned right now.
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I've lost all 37lbs just walking 10k steps a day (some days even more).2
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We all must begin somewhere, before we can run a marathon we must take the first step. Build slowly day by day as you grow stronger your muscles will grow and tone up. Then you can ask more of them. Also as you lose weight, you do not want to lose weight too rapidly that can lead to many problems, by slowly increasing day by day your body will better absorb all the excess over time.0
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